University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross on Tuesday asked the Legislature's budget-writing committee to approve a new public authority for the UW System, a "dedicated and stable funding stream" and to reduce the governor's proposed $300 million budget cut over the next two years.

Shortly after he finished his testimony, a handful of protesters burst into the room shouting, "No cuts, no deals." Followed by four Capitol police officers, the protesters marched past the table where Cross was sitting to give testimony before the Joint Committee on Finance.

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp. and has to reimburse the company, Koss Chief Executive Michael Koss should also be ordered to personally pay the public company he runs, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

Grant Thornton, Koss Corp.'s former auditor, should also have to pay a portion of any award that may be ordered, Park Bank argued in the latest twist in a long-running court fight stemming from Sachdeva's massive embezzlement.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," the bank said in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss, in this case, those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(3)

No silver bullets from Sen. Decker

If the situation is going to change significantly this year for Milwaukee Public Schools or the private schools in Milwaukee's voucher program, chances are strong that Russ Decker, the Democratic majority leader in the State Senate, will have a hand in it. He pretty much controls what the Senate takes up.

But during a session with Journal Sentinel editors and reporters on Tuesday, there was little indication from Decker that he expects big changes specific to Milwaukee education during the new legislative session.

The major issue for schools, he said, will be overall funding. But that's not just a Milwaukee issue. Decker, who is from Schofield in central Wisconsin, said there are rural districts in severe need along with MPS. Any proposal to shift school aid from outstate to Milwaukee will get no support from legislators from all those other areas, he said.

Could he see himself supporting a change in governance of MPS, such as an appointed school board? No, he said. For one thing, he doesn't like appointed officials with taxing power.

Will there be changes in the voucher program? Decker, a critic of vouchers, said he hopes so, as far as matters like making the 120-plus voucher schools take and report results on the state's standardized tests and requiring all voucher teachers to be licensed.

But don't expect too much change, he indicated. "It (the voucher program) is not going to go away," he said, "You've got to be a realist." He'd prefer if its growth was slowed, he said, but he differentiated that from calling for shrinking the program. More than 20,000 Milwaukee chidlren are attending private schools using vouchers this year and the total has been going up about 1,000 a year.

What about fixing the "funding flaw" in financing the voucher program, the system that Mayor Tom Barrett and others say treats city property taxpayers unfairly?

"Where the cash is going to come from, that's very difficult," Decker said. "I don't have a silver bullet for the propblem you have with the way it's draining MPS."